In Acta Astronautica for July (vol. 232): Kuppa, K. McMahon, J. W. Dietrich, A. B. Autonomous shape modeling of small bodies using infrared image silhouettes P. 215 .2025.03.005Iwakawa, A. Mizojiri, S. Hall-effect thruster system of fully water propellant with microwave… Read More »Note, Paper: Acta Now
Courtesy of Planetary Science Newsletter– Overview papers on HWO– the facility-flagship telescope after, and bigger than, the James Webb telescope- are out now, and accepting comments from the science community. Note that HWO will view in the optical and ultraviolet,… Read More »HWO Early White Papers
The White House 2026 budget request that covers NASA has been released… and it’s as bad as other White House actions on science would indicate. There hasn’t been carnage to this level since the ’80s abandonment of planetary exploration. The… Read More »FY2026 NASA Budget Request- Regress
The June issue of Astronomical Journal (vol. 169 #6) brings us: B. T. Bolin, C. Fremling, M. Belyakov, et al. Keck and Gemini Characterization of Hayabusa2# Rendezvous Target 1998 KY26 303 adccbe(The DES Collaboration) Photometry of Outer Solar System Objects… Read More »Note, Paper: Eyes on Target
Time for another survey for IRTF (and Keck Observatory) participants. The NASA IRTF (InfraRed Telescope Facility) is the leading source for asteroid follow-up observations, determining spectra and mineralogies for more small bodies than any other. Staff are interested in: -budgets-observing… Read More »IRTF/Keck User Survey
Time for another batch of papers from Planetary Science Journal (still vol. 6): Schang, K. Dove, A. Effects of Particle Shape and Size on Granular Mechanics in Vacuum and Microgravity Environments 88 adbgebÄtuk, M. Two Possible Orbital Histories of… Read More »Note, Paper: Mote Papers
How did I miss this one… in Space Science Reviews (vol.221): Nakamura, T. Engrand, C. Zolensky, M. et al. Sample Return Missions: Rosetta Stones Returned from the First Small Bodies in the Solar System 44 s11214-025-002268-4 Yes, Space Science Reviews.… Read More »Note, Paper: Sample Return Science Reviews
…speaking of SiTian… The latest issue of Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics (vol. 25 #4) is a special Issue: Pathfinder of the SiTian Project – Progress of Mini SiTian Huang, Y. Liu, J. Wu, H. et al. The Mini-SiTian Array: A… Read More »Note, Papers: SI on SiTian
In Experimental Astronomy (all-digital, no physical issues) vol. 59, #3: Xiang, W. Jia, P. Li, Z. An Optimization Framework for Wide-Field Small Aperture Telescope Arrays Used in Sky Surveys 32 s10686-025-10004-0 Covering the sky requires more than one telescope: in… Read More »Note, Paper: Better Net-Tels
In the Astrophysical Journal Letters issue for May 1 (vol. 984 #1) : Bolin, B. T. Hanuš, J. Denneau, L. et al. The Discovery and Characterization of Earth-crossing Asteroid 2024 YR4 L25 adc910 It’s here: the paper summing up… Read More »2024 YR4: Spill, You